RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat promotes inclusivity in New York speech

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat delivered an address at the Universal Oneness Celebrations in New York, emphasizing themes of moderation, inclusivity, and religious diversity. Speaking alongside a rabbi, an imam, and a reverend, Bhagwat stated that diversity is a rule of nature and that different religious paths can coexist within a unified humanity. He asserted that diversity must be accepted, respected, and preserved.

Bhagwat’s remarks align with a multi-year trend of the RSS leadership articulating a softer ideological stance. He previously noted that any Hindu believing Muslims should be expelled from India cannot remain a Hindu. While acknowledging the organization's interest in influencing public policy and politics, he emphasized that social change must originate at the societal level. Analysts suggest these nuanced public postures by Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are efforts to mitigate perceptions of ideological rigidity.